Effective Strategies to Lower Blood Pressure

Introduction

Blood pressure is a reading of the pressure exerted by the continuous pumping of the heart. The heart pumps blood and gushes blood within the arteries of the body. It is extremely important to be aware of one’s blood pressure because alterations in blood pressure may lead to several cardiovascular conditions. The question arises, how to find out one’s blood pressure. The answer is simple and standard via a blood pressure test. A sphygmomanometer is a clinical device that aids in reading and providing accurate blood pressure. After this, an individual is acknowledged for the blood pressure range they fall in. High blood pressure and low blood pressure are the two medical conditions of the cardiovascular system that indicate an abnormality either with the blood vessels of the heart or other bodily systems. Thus, understanding blood pressure and its ranges is a key factor in maintaining blood pressure.

What Is the Normal Range of Blood Pressure?

The standard way to measure blood pressure is by obtaining the readings of two numbers. The first number is the systolic pressure which measures the pressure within the arteries while the heart beats. The second number is the diastolic blood pressure which measures the pressure in the arteries while the heart rests between two beats. Mentioned below are the healthy ranges of blood pressure

• The normal range of blood pressure is when the reading of systolic should be less than 120 while diastolic should be less than 80.

• An elevated range of blood pressure is when the reading of the systolic is between 120 to 130 and the diastolic is less than 80.

• High blood pressure or hypertension has two stages, namely, stage 1 and stage 2.

• Stage 1 has a systolic range between 130 to 139, while diastolic ranges from 80 to 89.

• Stage 2 ranges have a systolic reading of more than 140 and a diastolic range of more than 90.

• If the systolic blood pressure is more than 180 and diastolic blood pressure is more than 120, it leads to a condition called a hypertensive crisis.

What Are the Factors That Influence Normal Blood Pressure?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, and hypotension, or low blood pressure, are the two types of conditions that get influenced by several factors. Both conditions show clinical manifestations of fainting, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Numerous factors influence normal blood pressure. A few of them are mentioned below.

• Age

• Fitness level.

• Physical activeness.

• Smoking.

• Presence of cardiovascular disease.

• High cholesterol.

• Diabetes mellitus.

• Air temperature.

• Standing up.

• Lying down.

• Emotions.

• Body size.

• Medications.

What is Low Blood Pressure?

Low blood pressure with no clinical signs or symptoms is generally not very serious. Nevertheless, health issues may develop if the blood pressure drops, depriving the brain of an adequate blood supply. This will eventually lead to dizziness as well as difficulty in breathing. A sudden decrease in one’s blood pressure most commonly occurs while standing up abruptly. This type of abnormality in the blood pressure is called postural hypotension. Another kind of decrease in blood pressure can result from standing for a long time, called neurally mediated hypotension.

What Causes Low Blood Pressure?

Hypotension is the condition when an individual suffers from low blood pressure. Several reasons may lead to this condition. Mentioned below are some of the causes of low blood pressure.

• Heart tissue damage.

• Age.

• Heart attack.

• Congenital heart defect.

• Inflammation of heart tissue.

• Heart surgery complications.

• An underactive thyroid gland.

• Imbalance of chemicals in the blood.

• Imbalance of calcium levels.

• Imbalance of potassium levels.

• Obstructive sleep apnea.

• Rheumatic fever.

• Lupus

• Sedatives.

• Opioids.

• Antiarrhythmic drugs.

• Psychiatric medications.

• Beta-blockers.

What Are the Different Categories of Blood Pressure Medications?

Antihypertensives or high blood pressure medications are divided into several categories based on their route of action and the side effects they may prevail. Mentioned below are the different categories of blood pressure medications.

• Diuretics - A diuretic is one of the most commonly prescribed antihypertensive medications used to correct high blood pressure. Diuretics work by helping the kidneys to discard excess sodium and water in the body. This drastically drops the amount of blood that passes through the blood vessels and thus helps in dropping blood pressure. Diuretics are of three types- potassium sparing diuretics, thiazide diuretics and loop diuretics. Out of all these diuretics, thiazide is the one that has the least amount of side effects when prescribed in a lower dosage.

• Beta-blockers - The electrical signals to the heart are slowed down by the beta-blockers. This helps the heart to beat at a more regular pace and decreases the amount of force. Eventually, the blood pressure is reduced since the heart has to pump less volume of blood.

• ACE Inhibitors - Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or ACE inhibitors do not allow the body to freely form a hormone called angiotensin II. Angiotensin II inhibitor hormone results in the blood vessels turning narrow and thus increases blood pressure. Hence, the blood pressure is reduced and maintained by decreasing the action of this particular enzyme.

• Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers - This is a kind of medication that prevents the blood vessels from getting in contact with angiotensin II. Angiotensin II works by attaching itself to the receptor site. Angiotensin II receptor blockers get in between these receptor sites and thus avoid the binding of this particular hormone which eventually drops the blood pressure.

• Calcium Channel Blockers - All muscles require calcium in order to move and function. Calcium flows in and out of the muscular cells. Calcium channel blockers are the drugs that block the entry of calcium into the smooth muscles of the heart as well as blood vessels and thus lower the blood pressure because the heart is made to relax.

• Alpha-blockers - Catecholamines are the hormones produced within the body in certain circumstances. Catecholamines tend to bind to alpha receptors, a crucial part of the cells. This binding of the cell and hormone results in an increased heart rate. Alpha-blockers are medications that block the mechanism of catecholamines, and thus, they do not bind with the alpha receptors. Due to this, blood can flow at a normal pace within the blood vessels, and thus the blood pressure is maintained on the lower side.

• Alpha-2 Receptor Agonists - A combined effect of blocking the catecholamines from binding to the cells or alpha as well as beta receptors is brought about by alpha 2 receptor agonists, also called alpha beta-blockers. The blood vessels do not constrict, and the heart does not require a lot of force to pump blood. This leads to a decrease in blood pressure.

• Aldosterone Receptor Antagonists - These drugs bring about their action by blocking a chemical compound in the body called aldosterone. The blocking results in reducing the bodily fluids from being retained and thus lowers the blood pressure.

• Central Agonists - These medications control the brain and instruct it not to produce or release a hormone called catecholamines. Due to this instruction from the central nervous system, the heart does not have to work with much force, and thus the blood flows with a reduced pressure onto the blood vessels.

• Direct Renin Inhibitors - DRI or direct renin inhibitors are the latest kind of medication to lower blood pressure. The main mechanism of action of these drugs is to block the chemical, referred to as renin, in the body. As a result, the blood vessels widen up, giving the blood a free flow and thus reducing high blood pressure.

• Vasodilators - These drugs are known to relax the inner walls of the blood vessels. They chiefly act on arterioles, the tiny arteries in the body. The direct result of this is a drastic decrease in blood pressure.

Are There Any Strategies to Lower Blood Pressure?

It should be noted that high blood pressure is a disease that involves the cardiovascular system. There are a few strategies to help drop blood pressure but none of these work for a longer time frame. A hypertensive patient must visit a cardiologist at the earliest, as mentioned above, in order to correct the condition.

• Maintaining body mass index.

• Eating a diet low in sodium.

• Regular exercise.

• Brisk walking.

• Reducing stress.

Conclusion

High blood pressure is a cardiovascular condition where the heart and the blood vessels exert more force in order to function efficiently. This condition must be corrected and reversed else it may lead to permanent damage to the heart. Lowering the blood pressure can be done by several high blood pressure medications. At times, the healthcare provider may combine two kinds of high blood pressure medications for a more direct and immediate change. Living a healthy and active lifestyle may be an added advantage in decreasing high blood pressure.